The synthesis and characterisation (UV-Vis, IR, X-ray diffraction, etc.) of a series of Ni(II) complexes derived from both known and novel 2-acylmethyl-2-oxazolines (2a-g: i.e., (Z)-1-R-2-(4,4 0 -dimethyl-2 0 -oxazolin-These Ni materials (3a-g) represent the first group 10 metal complexes of this ligand class. All derivativesen-1-ate formed via proton loss from 2. The air-and moisture-stable metal complexes feature a less typical distorted seesaw-shaped disposition of binding atoms around the metal centre for six structurally characterised (X-ray) examples. Preliminary investigations indicate that 3a (R ¼ -Ph) is a useful catalysts for olefin polymerisation in the presence of alkylaluminum reagents. Scheme 1 Azole heterocycles: 1,3-oxazole (top, left); 1,3-benzoxazole (top, middle); 4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazole (i.e., 2-oxazoline: top, right); 2-acylmethyl-2-oxazoline (A: bottom; enol tautomer shown).(2) { Reduced yields were noted employing [Ni(OH 2 ) 6 ](NO 3 ) 2 or [Ni(OH 2 ) 6 ]Cl 2 .This journal is a Polymerisation conditions: 1 h at 60 C; 20 mmol of 3a in 2 mL of C 7 H 8 ; 3 mL (2.7 g; 0.026 mol) of styrene in 7 mL C 7 H 8 .
This journal is